Security failures found at Sydney Harbor Bridge

Authorities ordered an urgent investigation Monday into security at Sydney Harbor Bridge after two men climbed to the top of its landmark arch in the last two weeks.

The bridge is one of Sydney's -- and the world's -- most famous structures and is considered a prime terror target. However, it is currently guarded only by a handful of private guards working for the city's traffic authority.

Peter Debnam, police affairs spokesman for the opposition Liberal Party in the state of New South Wales, said the Sydney man's actions overnight were similar to an antiwar graffiti attack on the Opera House earlier this year when protesters daubed "no war" in huge red letters on the building's white-tiled roof.

"It highlights that there is effectively no security on Sydney icons, which are the most obvious targets in terms of terrorism," Debnam said.

The latest climber was a 26-year-old Sydney man caught by police in the early hours of Monday after he clambered up the bridge and stole an Australian flag flying from its summit. The offense carries a small fine.

His actions followed those of Frenchman Alain Robert, who calls himself Spiderman because of previous climbs up famous landmarks like the Empire State Building and the Eiffel Tower. Robert was fined A$350 (US$252) for his Nov. 21 stunt.

John Watkins, police minister for New South Wales, said Monday morning's climber was spotted before he reached the top of the bridge and was arrested after he climbed down again. The stunt reportedly was done as a dare.

"An assessment was made that this was someone who was a prank climber, intoxicated and, accordingly, police ... waited for the person to come down," Watkins told Sydney radio station 2GB.

"If there had been any suggestion of terrorism our counterterrorism resources and plans would have swung into action," he added.

Sydney Harbor Bridge security was upgraded a year ago because of the growing threat of terrorist attack. It is now patrolled 24 hours a day but that level of protection now looks likely to be boosted after the two climbers exposed how easy it is to clamber up the steel arch.